1968 Dodge Charger

Charger R/T Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

XS29L8B335698

Gasoline

1968 was the first year of a new look in Charger styling, inspired by NASCAR, the 1968 charger was arguably the best looking sedan manufactured that year. Some things unique to Chargers are a key light at the ignition switch, a map light in the dash, a remotely adjustable driver’s side mirror, and a Rallye Instrument cluster, for the R/T models there was a tach/clock, the Rallye suspension and a 440 cid Magnum engine or the 426 Hemi. You are bidding on a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, with a 440 and automatic transmission. It is a running car, good looking, exceptionally clean, and it’s solid and complete. Also included in this auction are most of the parts necessary for completing a further restoration. This R/T came from the factory with A/C, P/S, P/B (with HD 11 ½” drums). It now has an AM/FM stereo cassette player with a 4 speaker system but it originally came with a “Roller” radio, it also has a passenger side mirror. This is a very fast, fun car to drive with surprising acceleration and effortless steering and braking. I bought this car in 1987 and have owned it till now. I drove it up to mid 2004. When I bought the car, the original engine and trans were gone but everything else including the radiator, grill, linkages, and air conditioning parts were there. The interior was rough, most of it was missing and most of what was left was damaged beyond repair. There was no broadcast sheet to be found. The paint was shot but the body was not bad and still had all the original sheet metal. There was no discernable rust, only minor dings and dents. Some trim items were scratched or dented or missing. The car appeared to have had two different paint jobs one white and one yellow. The Vin plate and fender tag were there, the front fenders, frame horns, bumpers and the factory exhaust tips were all in excellent condition. I started repairing and restoring the car immediately. Originally painted Racing Green, I had the car repainted Charger Red and then repaired or replaced the interior with new rugs (no rust on the floor pan), new foam and upholstery for the seats, all new door panels and a new headliner. The tach/clock was not working and I had it repaired. The dash pad has no cracks or splits and the console is not cracked or broken. The steering wheel has no cracks. The factory/dealer applied undercoating was in excellent shape and there was only minor surface rust showing on the underside of the car body. The car has had all its trim restored, polished, and it is still in excellent shape, also the grill is in mint condition. This is an original CA car with matching body numbers (see photos). I have the original CA black and yellow plates (included) and my 1990 CA registration shows that these plates belong to the car. Over the course of two years (87-90) I carefully rebuilt and restored the car to excellent condition. Since it was rebuilt (1990), it has always been kept garaged. Shortly after I acquired the car, I was able to purchase a running short block (a 1970 none HP) which is in the car now. I had this block re-ringed using a glaze breaking hone and new cast iron rings. The pistons, TRW L2266 at .030 over, were reused and I installed a DC-P4286631 reproduction Hemi grind cam and lifter set. New Sealed Power CB-527-P10 rod bearings and new Cleveite mains at .010 were installed. I also had a nice pair of 906 heads media blasted and completely rebuilt with only a minimum cut used to clean the head surface. The heads then had a new three angle valve job, reconditioned guides, new seals and a new set of DC-3690933 St. Hemi springs installed. A 402 pan and pickup with the HP windage tray is on the bottom of this block. I was also able to buy an automatic transmission from a 1968 GTX (which is in the car now) it came with the original 10 3/4" torque converter (which is included but needs to be rebuilt). This Trans is stamped with the numbers PK281541J2261-0662 on the drivers side pan rail. I was also able to find a 68 HP cast iron intake manifold and an AVS-4429S (OEM, 68 HP w/auto) and this also included the air cleaner. Latter I bought a nice pair of 68 HP exhaust manifolds and all of these items are on the car.. I had the bumpers re-chromed and the transmission completely rebuilt to factory specs. I bought a fresh reconditioned torque converter which is still installed in the car. The 18x26 inch radiator was re-cored and another row was added (from 3 to a 4 core) so the engine always runs cool even with the air conditioning on in the summer. I had the front end completely rebuilt with new A arm bushings, upper and lower ball joints, new control arm bushings, strut bushings, sway bar bushings and a new steering arm, idler arm, new tie rod ends, and new shocks all around. I had the drive shaft checked for straight, (this is a replacement shaft and it needs to be rebalanced) also new u joints were installed and the power box was rebuilt. New HD 11½” front brake drums were installed with new front and rear shoes, also new seals and bearings were installed in the front hubs and a rebuilt power brake booster was added. After the engine was installed and the car was ready to drive, the front end was completely realigned. The rear axle has not been removed and still has the factory 8 ¾ sure grip with 3:23 gears. The springs are the factory original 6 on the left and 7 on the right. After I registered the car in 1990, (engine passed the CA smog check and runs on 91 octane, Shell or Chevron pump gas) a new vinyl top was put on, a new Pioneer AM/FM stereo radio cassette player, KE-2600QR was installed (the dash has not been cut or altered) this player has an electric retractable antenna in the stock location. Light window tinting (CA legal) was added to the side and rear windows. The end result is a real head turner. I have driven the car for about 14 years roughly 22,000 miles to meets, car shows, cruse nights, and around town on weekends. Lately the car has set, garaged, for the last 6 years. I have not had the registration renewed since 2004. There are some things which will need repair. There are some rust bubbles on the bottom of the driver’s side rear quarter and also under the vinyl top. There are some rust stains in the trunk (see the photos). The vinyl top needs replacing and I have a new one, still in the box and it is included in this auction. The engine starts and runs ok, but the carb needs to be rebuilt as the gaskets and accelerator pump have dried out. It also needs a good tune up. The upholstery is in very good condition with only one rip on the back of the driver’s side seat. The B F Goodrich Radial T/A tires look new. The Trans has a small leak from around the valve body shift lever or the neutral start switch and appears to be the only leak on the car. The LT front turn signal (under the front bumper) doesn’t work and the lens isn't lit when the lights are on, also it doesn't flash when the 4 ways are on. The windshield wipers don’t work. The AC compressor runs but does not cool, the system will probably need some O rings and a recharge. There is a small orange shaped dent under the rear bumper on the drivers side. The shoulder straps (the upper part of the seat belts) are not installed and need to be restored. The tach/clock has stopped working again, it worked for ten years after I had it repaired at a speedometer shop. I have always been interested in completely restoring the car. And I have spent a good deal of time and effort looking for a bare 440 HP block which I could use if I were to completely restore the car to its original state, or as close as possible. To that end I bought a bare block in 1999. The block is a STD 440 HP casting, the date that is cast into the side is 1-25-68, and the casting number on the driver’s side is 2536430-9 (see photos). The pad next to the distributor is stamped D 440 and 3-15 HP. The letter D is the engine designation code for 1968 and the 3-15 HP is the engine assembly date with the HP internals. For the car itself the scheduled production date on the fender tag is 3-28-68. That makes this block a logical replacement as blocks were assembled any where from 1 day to 4 weeks before the car. My intention was to completely build this engine as a long block and replace the earlier one (the 1970 non HP) that was in the car. So I also began to acquire all the parts and pieces necessary to build a complete long block. The parts and pieces included for this second long block are a 402 pan and pick-up, a windage tray, and pan bolts. A factory timing cover with a set of bolts. STD 440 steel crank for an automatic, (not drilled for a bushing in rear) a harmonic balancer, oil slinger and the front crank bolt and washer. A new Cloyes roller timing chain. A nice set of used LY rods (thick, even, castings around the small ends). A new set of cam bearings, a new Mopar Performance P4452783 (440 Magnum) cam and lifter kit, new main and rod bearings at .010 over and a new Sealed Power E 424 x .030 piston ring set. And a new set of TRW L-2265F pistons at .030. An initial balance check has been done on the pistons, harmonic balancer, and rods, included were the bearing inserts, bolts, nuts and rings. I also have a nice pair of 906 heads (thickness from head surface to bolt boss is .985) with new or like new valves and a fresh 3 angle valve job, they have been media blasted, surfaced and new bronze liners are installed in the guides. The valves are in the heads but need to have the spring heights checked, seals installed and assembled. The springs are new in the box, Mopar Performance # P3690933, with a set of factory retainers. I have a new set of head gaskets, a set of head bolts, 2 sets of stock push rods, intake manifold gaskets and a new brass plug kit for the heads. Included is another set of valley cover hold downs and another, 68 440 HP auto carburetor, AVS-4429-S, for parts. I am also including two Echlin carb kits for the 68-69 AVS, one new unopened and one opened which is missing the accelerator pump. I believe the only pieces I don't have to swap the long blocks are a new valley cover, a complete, unopened, gasket set, and a block freeze plug kit. I also don’t have a new set of rocker shafts and rocker arms. I do have several open big block gasket sets which are included. Miscellaneous parts (see photos) include an under hood insulation kit with a new rubber hood seal, two sets of stock 440 valve covers, a 1968 Dodge Charger Service Manual and a, 1968 Charger Owners Manual. Also included are Charger option books, price guides, charger identification books, receipts, and a “Roller” radio with the original 68 Charger face plate for the dash. There are some extra trim items, and a partial decal and gasket kit for the body. This auction is for the running car and a second engine and miscellaneous pieces as shown or described above. This vehicle is sold “AS IS” and without any warranty. A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required and must be paid by PayPal within 72 hours of the close of this auction. A refund of the deposit will be given but only if description was misleading or untrue. Before refund is paid, a relisting fee for the full amount of the cost of the auction listing will be deducted. Payment is due within 7 days of the end of auction. I only accept bank transfers or personal checks. Personal checks must clear my bank before vehicle is released. Sorry but Escrows are not accepted. I strongly recommend payment by bank transfer as this transaction can be completed on the same day as the inspection and pickup. Inspections before the end of auction will be accommodated to the best of my ability. Shipper is responsible for pickup and shipping but I will be glad to assist in appointments and loading.